大台北地區民眾醫療服務使用之比較

The purpose of this study is to investigate how patients with different socioeconomic status may access differently to medical care upon various illness, and try to understand how the social factors and kinds of illness affect the medical care utilization by residents in Taipei metropolitan area. We conduct a random telephone survey in the area with subjects of 18 years and older in order to collect the necessary information. A total of 1,063 samples are collected in this study.
Our study finds that people take different approach as they face different health problems. Depending on the nature or type of their illness, people go to different kinds of medical care providers. When having less important illness or not so serious pains, people tend to buy over-the-counter drugs at the neighborhood drugstore to relieve pains. If pains progressed or discomfort perceived as infectious diseases, then they will go to small clinic in the community for treatment. If all these practices fail to solve their problems or having chronic diseases, they will go to general hospital or medical center for help.